Mouse-trap



(No Model.)-

G. A. SMITH.

MOUSE TRAIN Patented sc pt. 8, 1896.

J0 WITNESSES. INVENTOR fiw- I g di go/z f C MM @film THNITED 'TAT'ES ATENT Enron.

GEORGE A. SMITH, OF DERBY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOUSE-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,201, dated September 8, 1896.

Application filed June 10, 1 8 9 6.

T 0 Cali whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Derry, in the county of WVestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mouse-Traps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mouse-traps, and contains several new and novel features in connection therewith. A description of its parts and workings will be fully shown and described in the accompanying drawings and specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view, partly shown in section and partly broken away to show the interior parts. Fig. 2 is a top View with a portion removed, showing a portion of its working parts.

In the construction of my device I provide a sheet-metal box 1, as shown, with a doorway 28 and flange 30, and having the guideflanges 1 upon its forward end and the sliding door 22 fitted therein. Upon the rear end is fitted the door 8, hinged upon the pin 9 and provided with the latch 10 to secure said door. .Upon the upper portion of the same end are formed the guide-flanges 7, provided with a sliding glass door (5. The partition 1 is suitably secured within the said box, forming a water box or reservoir and provided with water, as shown by dotted lines. Upon the upper portion of the forward end is formed the hood 2, having flanges 3 and 17, the said hood fitting to the box 1 and may be removed when desired. A trap-door 5 is provided hinged upon the wire 5, the outer end of the said wire being provided with the weight 4, which is secured thereto. WVithin the interior of the forward end of the box and securely fastened is the bait-hook 32. Two upright pins and are secured at their upper ends by the flanges 16 and below to the base. Loosely fitted to the said pins is the sliding door 19, having lugs 18 bent over to slide upon the said pins. Secured to Serial No. 594,947. (No model.)

the said door is the wire rod 13, having a rounded portion upon its upper end forming an eye to fit loosely over the pin 12, which is securely fastened to the rod 5. Secured to the bottom by means of the lug 26 is the plate 27, which is also hinged upon the pins 29, and secured to said plate by lug 24 is the upright wire 21, having its upper end formed into a hook 35, as shown. The door 19 has a small pin 20 secured thereto and rests upon the inner edge of hook when the said door is up and holding the same. Upon the edge of the plate 27 is placed a weight 23, which keeps the plate in position. A plate 11 is secured to the inside of the Water-box and should be about the water-line. A post 14, of wood or other suitable material, securely fastened to the partition 1 leads from the base up to the trap-door 5.

To set the trap, raise the sliding door 22 and place a bait upon the hook 32, replace door, fill reservoir with water about on a line with the plate 1 1,press down the trap-door 5, as shown by dotted lines, which operation lifts the door 19 and secures it in place by the pin 20 upon it to the hook 35, formed upon the wire 21, which is secured to the plate 27 and held in place. by the weight 23.

The trap is operated in the following manner: The mouse enters at the door 28 and advances to thebait upon the hook 32. In doing so it treads upon the plate 27, which is forced down, releasing the pin 20 upon the door from the hook 35. The said door falls down and secures the mouse within. The door being secured, cutting off escape by that means, and seeing light entering from above by means of the glass door 6, it climbs up the post 14 and gets upon the trap-door 5, which tilts downward, dropping the mouse into the water, and at the same time the trap-door tilts the door 19, which again secures itself in readiness for the next one. The trap-door 5 being released of the weight of the mouse upon it assumes its former position. The plate 11 may be used as a landing for said mouse, and being only large enough to support one mouse a fight for possession would ervoir.

The contents of the reservoir may be removed by opening the door 8.

I00 be the result should another enter the res- Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mouse-trap, in combination with the box 1 and bait-hook 32, the plate 27 hinged upon the pins 29 and provided with weight 23 for holding said plate in position, the wire 21 secured to said plate and having formed upon its upper end the hook 35 and adapted to engage with the pin 20 upon the door 19, the rods 15 and 25 for guiding said door, the whole arranged to close said door when said plate is depressed, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a mouse-trap, a water-reservoir containing water, the plate 11 secured therein to form a landing, the trapdoor 5 hinged upon the wire 5 and having upon its outer end the balance-weight 4i for closing said door, the rod 12 secured to the wire 5 and adapted to raise the door 19 by means of the rod 13, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a mouse-trap, a sliding door 22 to have access to baiting the trap, the glass door 6 to admit light, the post 14c leading from the base to the trap-door, and the door 8 for removing contents of reservoir, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. SMITH. Witnesses:

ALBERT J. WALKER, I. A. CARLINE. 

